The examples and perspective in this article, namely the images, overrepresent the United States military. A less politicized tone should be sought by supplementing and supplanting the entry with other images, since, as a result, it may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

A pump-action Remington 870, two semi-automatic action Remington 1100 shotguns, 20 boxes of shotgun shells, a clay trap, and three boxes of clay pigeons.

A shotgun (also known as a fowling piece^[1] or scattergun^[2]) is a smooth-bored firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot or a solid projectile. Shotguns come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 5.5 mm (.22 inch ) bores up to 5 cm (2 inch) bores, and in a range of firearm operating mechanisms, including breech loading, double barreled shotguns, pump-action, bolt-action, lever-action, and semi-automatic models. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ... The word shotgun can mean: Shotgun - a type of firearm. ... Image File history File links Shotgunslaidout. ... Image File history File links Shotgunslaidout. ... Pump action shotguns are a subclass of shotguns that are distinguished in the way in which spent shells are extracted and fresh ones are chambered. ... The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun. ... The Remington 1100 is a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun, popular among waterfowlers and clay target shooters. ... Firearms redirects here. ... Lead shot is small balls of lead, traditional made using a shot tower. ... A double-barreled shotgun is a shotgun with two barrels. ...

Since the shot pellets from a shotgun spread upon leaving the barrel, the power of the burning charge is divided among the pellets, which means that the energy of any one ball of shot is fairly low. In a hunting context, this makes shotguns useful primarily for hunting birds and other small game. However, in a military or law enforcement context, the large number of projectiles makes the shotgun useful as a close quarters combat weapon or a defensive weapon. Shotguns are also used for target shooting sports such as skeet, trap, and sporting clay shooting. These involve shooting clay disks, also known as clay pigeons, thrown in various ways. For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated (such as venison). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hand to hand combat. ... For other uses, see Weapon (disambiguation). ... A defensive weapon is a personal weapon that is primarily intended for defending the user against an attacker. ... Skeet shooting is one of the two major types of competitive shotgun shooting at clay targets (the other is Trap shooting). ... Trap shooting in Ohio, c. ... Sporting Clays is a clay pigeon shooting sport. ...

Precursors to the shotgun, such as the musket were widely used by armies in the 18th century. However, in the 19th century, shotgun-type weapons were largely replaced on the battlefield with rifles, which were more accurate over longer ranges. The decline in military use of shotguns reversed in World War I, when American forces used 12-gauge pump action shotguns in close-quarters trench fighting. Since the end of World War II, the shotgun has remained in use with modern armies mostly in specialist roles, such as door breaching or for naval boarding parties. On the other hand, shotguns have become a standard firearm for law enforcement use in many countries. Police often use specialty less-lethal or non-lethal ammunitions, such as tear gas shells, bean bags, stun rounds, and rubber projectiles. Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ...

Characteristics

Shotguns come in a wide variety of forms, from rimfire models with 5.5 mm (.22 inch ) bores up to massive punt guns with 5 cm (2 inch) bores, and in nearly every type of firearm operating mechanism. The common characteristics that make a shotgun unique center around the requirements of firing shot. These features are the features typical of a shotgun shell, namely a relatively short, wide cartridge, with straight walls, and operating at a relatively low pressure. A rimfire is a type of firearm cartridge. ... A punt gun is a type of extremely large shotgun used in the 19th and 20th centuries for shooting large numbers of waterfowl for commercial harvesting operations. ... It has been suggested that Lead shot, Shotgun slug, Slug (projectile), Brenneke slug, Foster slug, specialty shotgun amunition, Flexible baton round, Breaching round, Bolo Shell, Dragons Breath, R.I.P. cartridge, Rat-shot be merged into this article or section. ...

Ammunition for shotguns is referred to in the USA as shotgun shells, shotshells, or just shells (when it is not likely to be confused with artillery shells). The term cartridges is standard usage in the United Kingdom. Single projectile loads are generally called shotgun slugs or just slugs. Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... It has been suggested that Lead shot, Shotgun slug, Slug (projectile), Brenneke slug, Foster slug, specialty shotgun amunition, Flexible baton round, Breaching round, Bolo Shell, Dragons Breath, R.I.P. cartridge, Rat-shot be merged into this article or section. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A shotgun slug is a single projectile designed to be fired out of a shotgun. ...

The shot pellets from a shotgun spread upon leaving the barrel which makes it easier to hit small targets at suitable ranges than with a rifle. The shot is usually fired from a smoothbore barrel; another configuration is the rifled slug barrel, which is used to fire a single projectile (though some slugs can also be fired from smoothbore weapons). Lead shot is small balls of lead, traditional made using a shot tower. ... Smoothbore refers to a firearm which does not have a rifled barrel. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Rifling of a Canon de 75 modèle 1897 A 35 caliber Remington, with a microgroove rifled barrel with a right hand twist. ... A slug barrel is a barrel for a shotgun that is designed primarily to shoot slugs. ...

Since the power of the burning charge is divided among the pellets, the energy of any one ball of shot is fairly low, making shotguns useful primarily for hunting birds and other small game. However, the large number of projectiles makes the shotgun useful as a close-combat weapon or defensive weapon, where the short range ensures that many of the projectiles of shot will hit the target (see riot shotgun and combat shotgun). For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated (such as venison). ... For other uses, see Weapon (disambiguation). ... A defensive weapon is a personal weapon that is primarily intended for defending the user against an attacker. ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Mossberg 590 pump-action riot shotgun, with 20 inch barrel A riot shotgun is a shotgun designed or modified for use as a primarily defensive weapon, primarily by the use of a short barrel. ... The original trench shotgun, a Winchester Model 1897 Pump Shotgun, modified for use in World War I. Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun in 12 gauge - holds 8 rounds (2 3/4) in the magazine A combat shotgun is a shotgun that is intended for use in a combat role. ...

Uses

The typical use of a shotgun is against small and/or fast moving targets, often taken while in the air. The spreading of the shot allows the user to point the shotgun close to the target, rather than having to aim precisely as in the case of a single projectile. Also Nicky Peirson uses it to kill deer and people that come on to his land. The disadvantages of shot are limited range and limited penetration of the shot, which is why shotguns are used at short ranges, and typically against smaller targets. Larger shot size, up to the extreme case of the single projectile slug load, results in increased penetration, but at the expense of fewer projectiles and lower probability of hitting the target. This article is about the ruminent animal. ...

Aside from the most common use against small, fast moving targets, the shotgun has several advantages when used against still targets. First, it has enormous stopping power at short range, more than nearly all handguns and comparable to most rifle cartridges. The wide spread of shot produced by the gun makes it easier to aim and to be used by inexperienced marksmen. A typical self-defense load of buckshot contains 8-27 large lead pellets, resulting in many wound tracks in the target. Also, unlike a rifle bullet, each pellet of shot is less likely to penetrate walls and hit bystanders. It is favored by law enforcement for its low penetration and high stopping power. For the concept in nuclear physics, see stopping power (particle radiation). ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... A US Marine marksman. ... A shotgun shell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a shotgun. ... For other uses, see Police (disambiguation). ... For the concept in nuclear physics, see stopping power (particle radiation). ...

On the other hand, the hit potential of a defensive shotgun is often overstated. The typical defensive shot is typically taken at very close ranges, at which the shot charge expands no more than a few centimetres. This means the shotgun must still be aimed at the target with some care. Balancing this is the fact that shot spreads further upon entering the target, and the multiple wound channels of a defensive load are far more likely to produce a disabling wound than a rifle or handgun^[3] Self defense refers to actions taken by a person to defend onself, ones property or ones home. ...

Sporting

United States Navy crew members skeet shooting on the USS Missouri

Some of the most common uses of shotguns are the sports of skeet shooting, trap shooting, and sporting clays. These involve shooting clay disks, also known as clay pigeons, thrown in various ways. Both skeet and trap competitions are featured at the Olympic Games. Image File history File links A crew member uses a Remington 1100 12-gauge shotgun to shoot clay targets during skeet shooting practice on the fantail of the battleship USS MISSOURI (BB-63). ... Image File history File links A crew member uses a Remington 1100 12-gauge shotgun to shoot clay targets during skeet shooting practice on the fantail of the battleship USS MISSOURI (BB-63). ... USN redirects here. ... Skeet shooting is one of the two major types of competitive shotgun shooting at clay targets (the other is Trap shooting). ... Trap shooting in Ohio, c. ... Sporting Clays is a clay pigeon shooting sport. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ...

Hunting

The shotgun is used for bird hunting, although it is also increasingly used in deer hunting in semi-populated areas where the range of the rifle bullet may pose too great a hazard. Many modern smooth bore shotguns using rifled slugs are extremely accurate out to 75 m (80 yards) or more, while the rifled barrel shotgun with the use of sabot slugs are typically accurate to 100 m (110 yards) and beyond -- well within the range of the majority of kill shots by experienced deer hunters using shotguns. This article is about the hunting of prey by human society. ... An APFSDS separating from its spindle sabot Anti-tank round with its sabot A sabot (pronounced say-boh) refers to a device named for a shoe used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter. ...

However, given the relatively low muzzle velocity of slug ammunition typically around 500 m/s (about 1600 feet per second) and blunt, poorly streamlined shape of typical slugs (which cause them to lose velocity very rapidly, compared to rifle bullets), a hunter must pay close attention to the ballistics of the particular make of ammunition to ensure a humane killing shot on a deer. Shotguns are normally used to hunt whitetail deer in the thick brush and briars of the south-eastern and upper midwestern US, where, due to the dense cover, ranges tend to be very close--25 m or less. At any reasonable range, shotgun slugs make effective lethal wounds due to their tremendous mass, reducing the length of time that an animal might suffer. A typical 12 gauge shotgun slug is a blunt piece of metal that could be described as a 18 mm (.729) caliber that weighs 28 grams (432 grains); for comparison, a common deer-hunting rifle round is a .308 (7.62 mm) slug weighing 9.7 g (150 grains), however the dynamics of the rifle cartridge allow for a different type of wound, and also a much further reach. For other uses, see Ballistics (disambiguation). ...

Law enforcement

A Gurkha Contingent trooper in Singapore armed with a folding stock pump shotgun

In the US, law enforcement agencies often use riot shotguns, especially for crowd and riot control where they may be loaded with less-lethal rounds such as rubber bullets or bean bags. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (873x1310, 237 KB) Description: Gurkha troopers on guard at a carpark entrance of Raffles City during the 117th IOC Session. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (873x1310, 237 KB) Description: Gurkha troopers on guard at a carpark entrance of Raffles City during the 117th IOC Session. ... Gurkha Contingent troopers guarding a car park entrance to Raffles City where the 117th IOC Session was held. ... Mossberg 590 pump-action riot shotgun, with 20 inch barrel A riot shotgun is a shotgun designed or modified for use as a primarily defensive weapon, primarily by the use of a short barrel. ... Non-lethal force is force which is not inherently likely to kill or cause great bodily injury to a living target. ... Rubber bullets are rubber-coated projectiles fired from guns. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Shotgun shell. ...

Civilian use

Compared to handguns, shotguns are heavier, larger, and not as maneuverable in close quarters (which also presents a greater retention problem), but do have the following advantages:

• They are generally much more powerful.
• They are easier for most shooters to hit with.
• They are generally perceived as more intimidating.
• On average, a quality pump-action shotgun is generally less expensive than a quality handgun (self-loading shotguns are generally more expensive than their pump-action counterparts).
• Shotguns are, in general, not as heavily regulated by legislation as handguns are (and are thus easier to obtain).
• When loaded with smaller shot, a shotgun will not penetrate walls as readily as rifle and pistol rounds, making it safer for non-combatants when fired in or around populated structures.

Military

Shotguns are common weapons in military use, particularly for special purposes. Shotguns are found aboard Naval vessels for shipboard security and are used by military police units. United States Marines have used shotguns since their inception at the squad level, often in the hands of NCOs, while the US Army often issued them to a squad's point man. Shotguns were modified for and used in the trench warfare of WWI, in the jungle combat of WWII and Vietnam and are being used today in Iraq, being popular with soldiers and Marines in urban combat environments. Point man is a U.S. English term used especially in American politics (e. ...

Definition

A U.S. Marine fires a Benelli M4 shotgun during training in Arta, Djibouti, 23 December 2006.

The wide range of forms the shotgun can take leads to some significant differences between what is technically a shotgun and what is legally considered a shotgun. A fairly broad attempt to define a shotgun is made in the United States legal code (18 USC 921), which defines the shotgun as "a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder, and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 380 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Shotgun Combat shotgun Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 380 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Shotgun Combat shotgun Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A rifled slug, with finned rifling designed to spin the bullet and stabilize it in order to improve its accuracy, is an example of a single projectile. Some shotguns have rifled barrels and are designed to be used with a "saboted" bullet, one which is typically encased in a two-piece plastic ring (sabot) designed to peel away after it exits the barrel, leaving the bullet, now spinning after passing through the rifled barrel, to continue toward the target. These shotguns, although they have rifled barrels, still use a shotgun-style shell instead of a rifle cartridge and may in fact still fire regular multipellet shotgun shells, but the rifling in the barrel will affect the shot pattern. The use of a rifled barrel blurs the distinction between rifle and shotgun, and in fact the early rifled shotgun barrels went by the name Paradox for just that reason^[4]. Hunting laws may differentiate between smooth barreled and rifled barreled guns. For other meanings, see Slug (disambiguation) A slug is a term used for a solid ballistic projectile. ... Rifling of a Canon de 75 modèle 1897 A 35 caliber Remington, with a microgroove rifled barrel with a right hand twist. ... This article is about firearms projectiles. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... An APFSDS separating from its spindle sabot Anti-tank round with its sabot A sabot (pronounced say-boh) refers to a device named for a shoe used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter. ... This article is about firearms projectiles. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about firearms projectiles. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Lead shot, Shotgun slug, Slug (projectile), Brenneke slug, Foster slug, specialty shotgun amunition, Flexible baton round, Breaching round, Bolo Shell, Dragons Breath, R.I.P. cartridge, Rat-shot be merged into this article or section. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Also, many people would likely call a fully automatic shotgun a shotgun, even though legally it would fall into a different category. Amongst the general populace, any gun that fires shotgun shells could be considered a shotgun. This might include the rare shot-pistol (a pistol designed to fire a standard shotgun shell).^[5] A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

Riot gun has long been a synonym for a shotgun, especially a short-barrelled shotgun. During the 19th and early 20th century, these were used to disperse rioters and revolutionaries. The wide spray of the shot ensured a large group would be hit, but the light shot would ensure more wounds than fatalities. When the ground was paved, police officers would often ricochet the shot off the ground, slowing down the shot and spreading pattern even further. To this day specialized police and defensive shotguns are called riot shotguns. The introduction of rubber bullets and bean bag rounds ended the practice of using shot for the most part, but riot shotguns are still used to fire a variety of less than lethal rounds for riot control. Mossberg 590 pump-action riot shotgun, with 20 inch barrel A riot shotgun is a shotgun designed or modified for use as a primarily defensive weapon, primarily by the use of a short barrel. ... Synonyms (in ancient Greek, συν (syn) = plus and όνομα (onoma) = name) are different words with similar or identical meanings. ... It has been suggested that Lead shot, Shotgun slug, Slug (projectile), Brenneke slug, Foster slug, specialty shotgun amunition, Flexible baton round, Breaching round, Bolo Shell, Dragons Breath, R.I.P. cartridge, Rat-shot be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Lead shot, Shotgun slug, Slug (projectile), Brenneke slug, Foster slug, specialty shotgun amunition, Flexible baton round, Breaching round, Bolo Shell, Dragons Breath, R.I.P. cartridge, Rat-shot be merged into this article or section. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... Mossberg 590 pump-action riot shotgun, with 20 inch barrel A riot shotgun is a shotgun designed or modified for use as a primarily defensive weapon, primarily by the use of a short barrel. ... Rubber bullets are rubber-coated projectiles fired from guns. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Shotgun shell. ... Non-lethal force is force which is not inherently likely to kill or cause great bodily injury to a living target. ... French mobile gendarmes doing riot control. ...

A sawed-off shotgun refers to a shotgun whose barrel has been shortened, leaving it more maneuverable, easier to use at short range and more readily concealed. Because of the traditionally nefarious uses for such weapons, many countries establish a legal minimum barrel length. The sawed-off shotgun is sometimes known as a "Lupara" (in Italian a generic reference to the word "Lupo" ("Wolf")) in Southern Italy and Sicily. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lupara is an Italian word used to refer to a side-by-side sawn-off shotgun, with external hammers for each barrel and two triggers, often homemade, and traditionally associated to Cosa Nostra, the Italian organised crime group dominant in Sicily, who uses it for vendettas, defense, and hunting. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ...

Coach guns are similar to sawn-off shotguns, except they are manufactured with an 46 cm (18") barrel and are legal for civilian ownership in some jurisdictions. Coach guns are also more commonly associated with the American Old West or Australian Colonial period, and often used for hunting in bush, scrub, or marshland where a longer barrel would be unwieldy or impractical. A Coach Gun is a double-barrel shotgun, traditionally configured with 12 gauge barrels approximately 18 in length placed side by side (SxS). ...

A backpacker shotgun has a short barrel and either a full-size stock or pistol grip, depending on legislation in intended markets. The overall length of these weapons is frequently less than 90 cm (36 inches), with some measuring up at less than 63 cm (25 inches). These weapons are typically break-action .410 "gauge" (caliber), single-barrel designs with no magazine and no automatic ejection capability. They typically employ a cylinder bore, but infrequently are available in modified choke as well. One example of a backpacker shotgun is the Verney-Carron Snake Charmer or the pistol grip Snake Charmer II. Backpacker shotguns are popular for "home defense" purposes and as "survival" weapons. Other examples include a variety of .410 / rifle "survival" guns manufactured in over/under designs. In the drilling arrangement, a rimfire or centrefire rifle barrel is located beneath the barrel of a .410 gauge shotgun. Generally, there is one manually-cocked external hammer and an external selection lever to select which caliber of cartridge to fire. A notable example is the Springfield Arms M6 Scout, a .410 / .22 backpacker drilling issued to United States Air Force personnel as a "survival" gun in the event of a forced landing or accident in a wilderness area. Variants have been used by Israeli, Canadian, and American armed forces. Shotgun/rifle combination guns with two, three, and occasionally even four barrels are available from a number of makers, primarily European. These provided flexibility, enabling the hunter to effectively shoot at flushing birds or more distant small mammals while only carrying one gun. A picture showing typical combination gun (top), drilling (middle), and vierling (bottom) barrel layouts A combination gun is a shoulder-held sporting firearm that comprises at least two barrels, a rifle barrel and a shotgun barrel, often but not always in an over and under configuration. ... A picture showing typical combination gun (top), drilling (middle), and vierling (bottom) barrel layouts A combination gun is a shoulder-held sporting firearm that comprises at least two barrels, a rifle barrel and a shotgun barrel, often but not always in an over and under configuration. ...

History

Confederate cavalryman

Since early firearms, such as the blunderbuss, arquebus and musket tended to have large diameter, smoothbore barrels, they would function with shot as well as solid balls. A firearm intended for use in wing shooting of birds was known as a fowling piece. The 1728 Cyclopaedia defines a fowling piece as: Image File history File links Confederate cavalryman with shotgun. ... Image File history File links Confederate cavalryman with shotgun. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia... An English flintlock blunderbuss A blunderbuss is a muzzle-loading firearm with a flared, trumpet-like barrel and is the predecessor to the shotgun. ... Japanese arquebus of the Edo era (teppō) Example of an arquebus The arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus[1] or hackbut; from Dutch haakbus, meaning hook gun[2]) was a primitive firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. ... Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... Events Astronomical aberration discovered by the astronomer James Bradley Swedish academy of sciences founded at Uppsala The founding of the University of Havana (Universidad de la Habana), Cubas most well-established university. ... Table of Trigonometry, 1728 Cyclopaedia Cyclopaedia, or, A Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols. ...

Fowling Piece, a portable Fire Arm for the shooting of Birds. See Fire Arm.

Of Fowling Pieces, those are reputed the best, which have the longest Barrel, vis. from 5 1/2 foot to 6; with an indifferent Bore, under Harquebus: Tho' for different Occasions they shou'd be of different Sorts, and Sizes. But in all, 'tis essential the Barrel be well polish'd and smooth within; and the Bore all of a Bigness, from one End to another...^[6]

For example, the contemporary Brown Bess musket, in service with the British military from 1722 to 1838, 19 mm (.75 inch) smoothbore barrel, roughly the same as a 10 gauge shotgun, and was 157 cm (62 inches) long, just short of the above recommended 168 cm (5 1/2 feet). On the other hand, records from the Plymouth colony show a maximum length of 137 cm (4 1/2 feet) for fowling pieces^[7], shorter than the typical musket. Short Land Service musket Brown Bess is a nickname of unknown origin for the British Armys Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. ... Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... // Events Abraham De Moivre states De Moivres theorem connecting trigonometric functions and complex numbers Publication of the first book of Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier Fall of Persias Safavid dynasty during a bloody revolt of the Afghani people. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of Plymouth Colony Map of Plymouth Colony showing town locations Capital Plymouth Language(s) English Religion Puritan, Separatist Government Monarchy Legislature General Court History  - Established 1620  - First Thanksgiving 1621  - Pequot War 1637  - King Philips War 1675–1676  - Part of the Dominion of New England 1686–1688  - Disestablished 1691...

Shot was also used in warfare; the buck and ball loading, mixing a musket ball with three or six buckshot, was used throughout the history of the smoothbore musket. The first recorded use of the term shotgun was in 1776 in Kentucky. It was noted as part of the "frontier language of the West" by James Fenimore Cooper. Buck and ball was a common load for muzzle-loading muskets, and was very commonly used in the early days of the U.S. Civil War. ... For other uses, see 1776 (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Cooper portrait by John Wesley Jarvis, 1822 James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. ...

With the adoption of the smaller bores and rifled barrels, the shotgun began to emerge as a separate entity. Shotguns have long been the preferred method for sport hunting of birds, and the largest shotguns, the punt guns, were used for commercial hunting. The double-barreled shotgun, for example, has changed little since the development of the boxlock action in 1875. Modern innovations such as interchangeable chokes and subgauge inserts make the double barreled shotgun the shotgun of choice in skeet, trap shooting, and sporting clays, as well as with many hunters. A double from a well respected maker, such as Kreighoff or Perazzi, can cost US$5,000 to start, and reach prices of US$100,000 for presentation grade examples^[8]. Far less expensive is the pump action shotgun, such as the Mossberg 500, Remington 870 or Winchester 1300, many models of which retail for under US$350^[9]. A punt gun is a type of extremely large shotgun used in the 19th and 20th centuries for shooting large numbers of waterfowl for commercial harvesting operations. ... A view of the break-action of a typical side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun, with the Anson & Deeley boxlock action open and the extractor visible. ... The Anson & Deeley boxlock action is one of the most famous designs for the mechanical interworkings of Double-barreled shotguns. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The term skeet may refer to: A clay target. ... Trap shooting in Ohio, c. ... Sporting Clays is a form of clay pigeon shooting. ... A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the handgrip can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ... The Mossberg 500 is a shotgun manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons [1]. Rather than a single model, the 500 is really a series of widely varying hammerless, pump action repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options... The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun. ...

During its long history, it has been favored by bird hunters, guards and law enforcement officials. The shotgun has fallen in and out of favor with military forces several times in its long history. Shotguns and similar weapons are simpler than long-range rifles, and were developed earlier. The development of more accurate and deadlier long-range rifles minimized the usefulness of the shotgun on the open battlefields of European wars. But armies have "rediscovered" the shotgun for specialty uses many times. For other uses, see Police (disambiguation). ... A rifle is any long gun which has a rifled barrel. ... A rifle is any long gun which has a rifled barrel. ...

19th century

During the 1800s, shotguns were mainly employed by cavalry units. Cavalry units on both sides of the American Civil War employed shotguns. American cavalry went on to use the shotgun extensively during the Indian Wars throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Horseback units favored the shotgun for its moving target effectiveness, and devastating close-range firepower. The shotgun was also favored by citizen militias and similar groups. The shotgun was used in the defense of The Alamo during Texas' War of Independence with Mexico. Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... For wars involving India, see Military history of India. ... Typically, The Alamo refers to the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, in direct reference to a building refered to as the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ...

With the exception of cavalry units, the shotgun saw less and less use throughout the 19th century on the battlefield. As a defense weapon it remained popular with guards and lawmen, however, and the shotgun became one of many symbols of the American Old West. The famous lawman Cody Lyons killed two men with a shotgun; his friend Doc Holliday's only confirmed kill was with a shotgun. The weapon both these men used was the short-barreled version favored by private strongbox guards on stages and trains. These guards, called express messengers became known as shotgun messengers, since they rode with the weapon (loaded with buckshot) for defense against bandits. Passenger carriages carrying a strongbox usually had at least one private guard armed with a shotgun riding in front of the coach, next to the driver. This practice has survived in American slang; the term "riding shotgun" is used for the passenger who sits in the front passenger seat. The shotgun was a popular weapon for personal protection in the American Old West, requiring less skill on the part of the user than a revolver. The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American Old West, circa 1887. ... John Henry Doc Holliday (August 14, 1851 – November 8, 1887) was an American dentist, gambler, and gunfighter of the American Old West frontier who is usually remembered for his associations with Wyatt Earp and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. ... In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a private express messanger or guard, especially on a stagecoach but also a train, in charge of overseeing and guarding a valuable private shipment, such as the contents of a strongbox or safe. ... For other uses, see Slang (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American Old West, circa 1887. ... For other uses, see Revolver (disambiguation). ...

Daniel Myron LeFever

Daniel Myron LeFever is credited with the invention of the hammerless shotgun. Working for Barber & LeFever in Syracuse, N.Y. he introduced the first hammerless shotgun in 1878. This gun was cocked with external cocking levers on the side of the breech. He formed his own company, The LeFever Arms Co., in 1880 and went on to patent the first truly automatic hammerless shotgun in 1883. This gun automatically cocked itself when the breech was closed. He later developed the mechanism to automatically eject the shells when the breech was opened. The LeFever Arms Co. went on to make some of the finest double barrel shotguns in America until they were bought by The Ithaca Gun Co. in 1916. Daniel Myron Lefever, American Gunmaker. ... Ithaca Guns, USA LLC is a manufacturer of high-quality shotguns and rifles, founded in Ithaca, New York in 1880. ...

John Moses Browning

One of the men most responsible for the modern development of the shotgun was prolific gun designer John Browning. While working for Winchester Firearms, Browning revolutionized shotgun design. In 1887, Browning introduced the Model 1887 Lever Action Repeating Shotgun, which loaded a fresh cartridge from its internal magazine by the operation of the action lever. Before this time most shotguns were the 'break open' type. John Moses Browning (January 21[1] or January 23,[2] 1855 – November 26, 1926), born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed myriad varieties of weapons, cartridges, and gun mechanics, many of which are still in use around the world. ... The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating weapons during the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century. ... Year 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Winchester Model 1887 and Winchester Model 1901 are a series of lever-action shotguns that were produced by Winchester Repeating Arms during the late 19th century and the early 20th century. ... A break open firearm is one whose barrels are hinged, and rotate perpendicular to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of ammunition. ...

This development was greatly overshadowed by two further innovations he introduced at the end of the 19th century. In 1893, Browning produced the Model 1893 Pump Action Shotgun, introducing the now familiar pump action to the market. And in 1900, he patented the Browning Auto-5, the world's first semi-automatic shotgun. The Browning Auto-5 remained in production until 1998. Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... The Browning Auto-5 was a recoil-operated autoloading shotgun designed by John Browning. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

World wars

The decline in military use of shotguns reversed in World War I. American forces under General Pershing employed 12-gauge pump action shotguns when they were deployed to the Western front in 1917. These shotguns were fitted with bayonets and a heat shield so the barrel could be gripped while the bayonet was deployed. Shotguns fitted in this fashion became known as trench guns by the United States Army. Those without such modifications were known as riot guns. After World War I, the United States military began referring to all shotguns as riot guns. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Photo portrait from May 1917 New York Times John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was a soldier in the United States Army. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... The US Marine Corps OKC-3S bayonet A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon. ... The original trench shotgun, a Winchester Model 1897 Pump Shotgun, modified for use in World War I. Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun in 12 gauge - holds 8 rounds (2 3/4) in the magazine A combat shotgun is a shotgun that is intended for use in a combat role. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ...

Due to the cramped conditions of trench warfare, the American shotguns were extremely effective. Germany even filed an official diplomatic protest against their use, alleging they violated the laws of warfare. The Judge Advocate General reviewed the protest, and it was rejected because the Germans protested use of lead shot (which would have been illegal) but military shot was plated. This is the only occasion the legality of the shotgun's use in warfare has been questioned.^[10] {{subst:empty template|}} {{Copyviocore |url= |month = {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} |day = {{subst:CURRENTDAY}} |year = {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}} |time = {{subst:CURRENTTIME}} |timestamp = {{subst:CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}}} Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static. ... The Judge Advocate Generals Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. ...

United States Marine carrying a Winchester M97 shotgun during World War II

During World War II, the shotgun was not heavily used in the war in Europe by official military forces. However, the shotgun was a favorite weapon of Allied-supported partisans, such as the French Resistance. By contrast, in the Pacific theater, thick jungles and heavily-fortified positions made the shotgun a favorite weapon of the United States Marines. Marines tended to use pump shotguns, since the pump action was less likely to jam in the humid and dirty conditions of the Pacific campaign. Similarly, the United States Navy used pump shotguns as well to guard ships when in port in Chinese harbors (e.g., Shanghai). The United States Army Air Forces similarly used pump shotguns to guard bombers and other aircraft against saboteurs when parked on airbases across the Pacific and on the West Coast of the United States. Pump and semi-automatic shotguns were used in marksmanship training, particularly for bomber gunners. The most common pump shotguns used for these duties were the 12 gauge Winchester Model 97 and Model 12. Image File history File links United States Marine carrying Winchester M97 shotgun, World War 2. ... Image File history File links United States Marine carrying Winchester M97 shotgun, World War 2. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Look up partisan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Croix de Lorraine, the symbol of the resistance chosen by de Gaulle French Resistance is the name used for resistance movements during World War II which fought the Nazi German occupation of France and the collaborationist Vichy regime. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... USN redirects here. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was the aviation component of the United States Army primarily during World War II. The title of Army Air Forces succeeded the prior name of Army Air Corps in June 1941 during preparation for expected combat in what came to be known as... Winchester Model 1897 The Winchester Model 1897 is a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine. ... Winchester Model 1912 12-gauge hammerless pump-action shotgun manufactured in 1948 The Winchester Model 1912 (also commonly known as the Model 12, or M12) is a hammerless slide-action, i. ...

Late 20th century to present

Since the end of World War II, the shotgun has remained a specialty weapon for modern armies. It has been deployed for specialized tasks where its strengths were put to particularly good use. It was used to defend machine gun emplacements during the Korean War, American and French jungle patrols used shotguns during the Vietnam War, and shotguns saw extensive use as door breaching and close quarter weapons in the early stages of the Iraq War, and saw limited use in tank crews.^[11] Many modern navies make extensive use of shotguns by personnel engaged in boarding hostile ships, as any shots fired will almost certainly be over a short range. Shotguns are far from being as common amongst military forces as rifles, carbines, or submachineguns. A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... Belligerents United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs: Japan Medical staff: Denmark Italy Norway India Sweden DPR Korea PR China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Naval redirects here. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... A carbine is a firearm similar to, but generally shorter and less powerful than, a rifle or musket of a given period. ... A submachine gun is a firearm which combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the ammunition of a pistol, and is usually between the two in weight and size. ...

On the other hand, the shotgun has become a standard in law enforcement use. A variety of specialty less-lethal or non-lethal ammunitions, such as tear gas shells, bean bags, flares, explosive sonic stun rounds, and rubber projectiles, all packaged into 12 gauge shotgun shells, are produced specifically for the law enforcement market. Recently TASER international introduced a self-contained electronic weapon which is fired from a standard 12 gauge shotgun [1]. Summary An electroshock gun or stun gun, is a weapon used for subduing a person by administering an electric shock. ...

The shotgun remains a standard firearm for hunting throughout the world for all sorts of game from birds and small game to large game such as deer. The versatility of the shotgun as a hunting weapon has steadily increased as slug rounds and more advanced rifled barrels have given shotguns longer range and killing power. The shotgun has become a ubiquitous firearm in the hunting community. The prevalence of the shotgun's use in hunting can be easily shown by the number of hunting incidents reported to wildlife and game officials. Of the thirty-four hunting accidents reported in Wisconsin in 2005, sixteen involved shotguns, making them the most common hunting firearm. The second most common was rifles of various calibers. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2005 [2])

In 1994, shotguns made up 9.7% of gun traces relating to criminal investigations in the United States and were the weapon of choice in 5% of homicides according to United States Justice Department statistics. Shotguns are not the preferred weapons for criminal activity, since criminals prefer weapons which are more easily concealed, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. However, the comparatively easy availability of double-barrelled shotguns compared to pistols in the United Kingdom and Australia, coupled with the ease with which their barrels and stocks can be shortened, has made the sawn-off shotgun a popular weapon of armed robbers in these countries.^{[citation needed]} A double-barreled shotgun is a shotgun with two barrels. ... A sawn-off shotgun or a sawed-off shotgun is a type of shotgun with a shorter gun barrel and often a shortened or removed stock, compared to regular shotguns. ... For the 1967 film, see Robbery (film). ...

Design factors

Action

Action is the term for the operating mechanism of a gun. There are many types of shotguns, typically categorized by the number of barrels or the way the gun is reloaded.

A view of the break-action of a typical double-barrelled shotgun, shown with the action open

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (640 × 958 pixel, file size: 79 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)A view of the break-action of a typical double-barrelled shotgun, with the action open and the extractor visible. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (640 × 958 pixel, file size: 79 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)A view of the break-action of a typical double-barrelled shotgun, with the action open and the extractor visible. ...

Break-action

For most of the history of the shotgun, the breech loading double barreled shotgun was the most common type, typically divided into two subtypes: the traditional "side by side" shotgun features two barrels mounted one beside the other (as the name suggests), whereas the "over and under" shotgun has the two barrels mounted one on top of the other. Side by side shotguns were traditionally used for hunting and other sporting pursuits (early long barreled side-by side shotguns were known as Fowling Pieces for their use hunting ducks and other birds), whereas over and under shotguns are more commonly associated with sporting use (such as clay pigeon/skeet shooting). Having said that, both types of double-barrel shotgun are used for hunting and sporting use, with the individual configuration largely being a matter of personal preference. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into shotgun. ... A double-barreled shotgun is a shotgun with two barrels. ...

Another, less commonly encountered type of break-action shotgun is the combination gun, which is an over and under design with one shotgun barrel and one rifle barrel (more often rifle on top, but rifle on bottom was not uncommon). There is also a class of break action guns called drillings, which contain three barrels, usually 2 shotgun barrels of the same gauge and a rifle barrel, though the only common theme is that at least one barrel be a shotgun barrel. The most common arrangement was essentially a side by side shotgun with the rifle barrel below and centered. Usually a drilling containing more than one rifle barrel would have both rifle barrels in the same caliber, but examples do exist with different caliber barrels, usually a .22 Long Rifle and a centerfire cartridge. Although very rare, drillings with three and even four (a vierling) shotgun barrels were made. For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... Calibre redirects here. ... .22 redirects here. ... A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge in which the primer is located in the center of the cartridge case head. ...

Pump-action

A Winchester M1897, one of the first successful pump-action shotgun designs

In pump-action shotguns (also known as Riot Guns), a sliding forearm handle (the pump) works the action, extracting the spent shell and inserting a new one as the pump is worked. A pump gun is typically fed from a tubular magazine underneath the barrel, which also serves as a guide for the pump. The rounds are fed in one by one through a port in the receiver, where they are pushed forward. A latch at the rear of the magazine holds the rounds in place in the magazine until they are needed. If it is desired to load the gun fully, a round may be loaded through the ejection port directly into the chamber, or cycled from the magazine, which is then topped off with another round. Well-known examples include the Winchester Model 1897, Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590. A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the fore-end of the stock can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ... Image File history File links Winchester_1897. ... Image File history File links Winchester_1897. ... The Winchester Model 1897 is a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine. ... Pump action shotguns are a subclass of shotguns that are distinguished in the way in which spent shells are extracted and fresh ones are chambered. ... Winchester Model 1897 The Winchester Model 1897 is a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine. ... The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun. ... The Mossberg 500 is a shotgun manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons [1]. Rather than a single model, the 500 is really a series of widely varying hammerless, pump action repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options...

Pump action shotguns with shorter barrels and no barrel choke (or very little) are highly popular for use in home defense and law enforcement applications. The minimum barrel length for shotguns in most of the U.S. is 18", as opposed to 24-28" commonly used for hunting. This 18" barrel (sometimes 18.5" to ensure differences in manufacturing or measuring do not make the gun illegal) is the primary choice for pump-action shotguns used for defense as the shorter barrel makes the weapon easier to maneuver around corners and in tight spaces, though longer barrels are sometimes used for a tighter spread pattern or increased accuracy of slug projectiles. Home-defense/law enforcement shotguns are usually chambered for 12-gauge shells, providing maximum shot power and the use of a variety of projectiles such as buckshot, rubber, sandbag and slug shells, but 20-gauge (common in bird-hunting shotguns) or .410 (common in youth-size shotguns) are also available in defense-type configurations allowing easier use by novice shooters.

A shorter barreled shotgun has many advantages over a handgun or rifle. Compared to a handguns chambered for 9mm Parabellum, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .45ACP and similar, a shotgun has far more power and damage potential, allowing a "one-shot stop" that is more difficult to achieve with typical handgun loads. Compared to a rifle, most shorter barreled shotguns are easier to maneuver, and still provide better damage potential at indoor distances (generally 3-5 yards) and reduce the risk of "overpenetration"; that is, the bullet or shot passing completely through the target and continuing beyond, which poses a risk to those behind the target through walls. The wide spread of the shot increases the effectiveness of "point shooting" - rapidly aiming simply by pointing the weapon in the direction of the target, allowing easy, fast use by novices. Ball and hollowpoint 9mm Luger rounds are popular handgun ammunition. ... Left to right: .38 Special, .17 HMR and . ... “.357” redirects here. ... The . ... ball and hollowpoint . ... For the concept in nuclear physics, see stopping power (particle radiation). ...